Latvian Ambassador expresses support for U.S. energy exports

On 29 January, at the National Press Club in Washington, the Ambassador of Latvia, Andris Razāns, together with his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland took part in a discussion on the importance of the U.S. energy exports for European Union countries. The discussion brought together researchers and journalists from the media that specialize on questions related to the energy sector.

Ambassador Razāns presented the measures taken by the Latvian Government and the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) concerning the opening of the natural gas market and implementation of the European Union’s third energy package designed to enable the establishment of an integrated gas market for the region. The Latvian Ambassador noted that the EU, by investing in the gas transmission and storage infrastructure should be guided by the principle of solidarity and interest in the market for energy. Ambassador Razāns commended the activities of U.S. lawmakers in facilitating the export of U.S. energy resources including with regard to licensing for companies which are planning to export liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The discussion was organised by LNG Allies and its participants included media representatives from Thompson Reuters, Platts (Natural Gas Daily) and SNL Energy (LNG Report). LNG Allies activities are aimed at promoting contacts and cooperation between the United States LNG industry and gas companies abroad.

The U.S. Congress is currently debating a legislative package providing for removal of bureacratic hurdles and decreasing the time required for obtaining LNG export licences to the countries with which the United States has no free trade agreement.